Cycling South Africa-Your Comments?

[HappyMartin]

 

Once again CSA is been bashed for the state of affairs within cycling yet we forget who makes up the structures of CSA- YOU THE MEMBERS. Stop been cowards and blaming CSA why not start serving on your provincial bodies and get yourselves elected onto the CSA board and then control what you percieve the current CSA electorte is not doing.

 

 

 

A couple of of months ago every Dick Tom and Harry was on the Lemmer brother'scase(Groot Lem and his beer' date=' visiting behind the sheds etc,we had the influencial fathers/sons spat at SA's, suspension of Mrs Dale etc taking place within the corridors of CSA and none of you

 

seemed bothered with the outcome of these yet now that it affects your sons and daughters you are all up in arms.

 

2010 around the corner and then we repeat the issues of licenses and so forth once again   [/quote']

 

I don't really see this thread as bashing the CSA. It was certainly not my intention. I agree that more people need to get involved but there needs to be a mechanism for that as well and it needs to be a mechanism that people are aware of and that they feel comfortable with.

 

From my ignorant perspective I have no idea whether or not I am a member of CSA via my club or my CGC license. I have no idea what the structures are, when meetings take place and so on. If someone or something needs my input then first step should be to let me know. I have no idea who Groot Lem is or what the beer and shed story refers to.

 

My point is simple. I would like to see a clear path to potential success for our talented riders. I ride a lot, enter races and spend money on my sport. I would like to some of that money and energy go into creating that mentioned clear structure to help talented riders. I have no sons or daughters here to worry about. I would just like to see talent and hard work rewarded.

 

[mallo]

Porky I am referring to the people who pop up once in a while to complain when things don't go their way.

 

 

 

An example CGC started the Interclub series recently and called upon three clubs to aid in the setup and organizing of the events. Germiston Wheelers hosted the first one and had a small turn-out of around 180 riders for the afternoon, what was glaringly strange about the

 

event was the absence of the big clubs support for such an event. The two biggest clubs in the province had two members participate on the day, Yet when one goes back to 2005 interclub series they had close to 500 entries in each event therefore CGC could charge R20-00 per entry need I say more.

[mallo]

Gypsy why don't you start the ball rolling and get yourself onto the board and ring the changes for the cyclists.

 

When Carinus took up the position at CSA we had an outcry from some sectors within cycling, the same went for his boet yet we had three successful SA champs take place under his charge, Barry is doing a great job with the juniors yet some deem it futile. Who will we be happy with?      

[intern]

 

Porky I am referring to the people who pop up once in a while to complain when things don't go their way.

 

 

 

An example CGC started the Interclub series recently and called upon three clubs to aid in the setup and organizing of the events. Germiston Wheelers hosted the first one and had a small turn-out of around 180 riders for the afternoon' date=' what was glaringly strange about the

 

event was the absence of the big clubs support for such an event. The two biggest clubs in the province had two members participate on the day, Yet when one goes back to 2005 interclub series they had close to 500 entries in each event therefore CGC could charge R20-00 per entry need I say more.[/quote']

 

I think one of my club mates won that race; the rest of our team was away at the Tzaneen Mountain to Mountain...

 

I tend to agree strongly with Porky; what is silly about CSA is the fact that it took until June for my GF to get her license.

 

And we ALL know the troubles that licensing has caused, and the lack of, well, anything, really, that you get for it, apart from occasionally being harassed by officials (some are friendly, some really are not; I had one woman being unbelievably rude to me at the start of the Graskop hillclimb. That said I always make an effort to thank the comms for their work..)

 

[porky]

Porky I am referring to the people who pop up once in a while to complain when things don't go their way.

An example CGC started the Interclub series recently and called upon three clubs to aid in the setup and organizing of the events. Germiston Wheelers hosted the first one and had a small turn-out of around 180 riders for the afternoon' date=' what was glaringly strange about the
event was the absence of the big clubs support for such an event. The two biggest clubs in the province had two members participate on the day, Yet when one goes back to 2005 interclub series they had close to 500 entries in each event therefore CGC could charge R20-00 per entry need I say more.[/quote']

 

Okay, fair enough Mallo, I am just irritated today and didnt quite understand your post, not your fault, I think I must just go home and veg in front of the TV with a cup of tea and a few "Romany creams".!!

 

 

 

 

[Hobie]

Hey does anyone know why the junior team of girls have dropped down to only one girl for the worlds, bit sad to be told you are going to the worlds  a few months ago and  then go training with the team oversees and while there get told you are no longer going

[buckstopper]

I believe the decision was Barry's call. The decision was supposedly going to be made on their performances in crit racing on the flat circuits in Belgium/netherlands.

 

I believe that CSA needs to decide on a rider's performances at home and then provide proper support for their journey to race the race of their lives. Youngsters who are not accustomed to being away from their families are asked to produce the goods without the support of their coaches/families. This in their grade 11 and matric years. There is a school of thought that is pro home schooling which is a hard call to make for an academically inclined rider.

 

The CSA plan for next year is to send riders for a 3 month stint to prepare for worlds. I believe a short 3 week visit to Italy (where Worlds will be held) will accomplish visualization. The riders should then return home to prepare, knowing what to expect in terms of the course. They should then return a week or 2 before. The support staff envisaged looks like the deal. It is also my opinion that there exists the belief that they have to TUFFEN UPP to get up to standards. This is is somewhat kampstaaldraadian. Decide on the talent. And then back your decision.

 

On the question of places, there were 4 rides available at worlds for the junior ladies cat, and tickets from Europe to Moscow available at E250. I believe the call was made and was in line with CSA's original plan to send only 1 girl as per their strat plan (see the CSA site). The upside is the other 2 girls selected are 1st years. The process is definitely moving forward though, so qdos to CSA for the process. The execution needs work though, with the right people involved.

[Owen]

I think the problem at Cycling SA is money. I don't want to sound political at all, but CyclingSA needs a person of colour, to head up the organisation. There are a few people at CSA, who really go out of their way to make the organisation work to the best of their ability. The so-called outstanding money from Govt and Lotto will come in a lot easier. It's just a way of life in SA which we need to accept.

 

Please i am not saying get anyone off the street.

 

[Absalon]

Get Pantani on the CSA board.....

 

 

 

Owen has a very good point here actually

[buckstopper]

Owen in the case of the girls to worlds this year I disagree. When it was informally put to a decision maker to give the nod should the riders provide the funds, this was not an option (in the name of their development you understand).

[Slowbee]

 

I love threads like this!!

 

 

 

It gives insight into the state of things since alot of people will

post behind fake names (cant spell anonymous!), for their own agenda's

and it opens things up for us supporters of cycling in SA.

 

And its also interesting to see who the people are that are posting and their "involvement" in the hub, as they only seem to have something to say about money and CSA.

 

But its not like I know anything.

 

 

I tend to agree strongly with Porky;

Intern - you need a job with the weather service - "there's a slight probability that it might rain with intermittent cloud cover, but sunshine should occur for some of the ride"

 

[Konaman]

Mountainbiking -  The next Olympics is in 2012 as far as I know. We need to start now to get a team/squad together of the most promising juniors and u23's. These riders should receive a reasonable income from "whoever"to only have to focus on cycling and not where the bread on their table is coming from tomorrow. If we don't do this, we can kiss results goodbye in 2012. (except for Burry) - but why should we pin our hopes on 1 person only!

Look at the Swiss this past weekend in Canada at the XC worldcup - 4 out of the first 5 finishers. Why cant we do it?

 

[THE BODY CENTRE]

@buckstopper - I don't know if one can prepare in SA to race in Europe ..theoretically I suppose one can, but the exposure to their way of racing, does simply not happen here, it seems...

I talked to my son tonight, who is racing/riding in italy - he says they race harder in their neutral zone than what happens here in a race  

[buckstopper]

Slow I think that a perception exists that CSA does not react well to criticism. This is an emotive issue. There are people who put a lot of time, effort and scarce resources into the sport in the name of development, voluntarily.  

[buckstopper]

Yes they race hard but we can and have matched them this year, with a number of stage wins and 2 near tour wins, and a team 1st. We need to build on this... smart

[Slowbee]

buckstoper - I know alot of people give of their time. And I know some people work really hard - just trying to get a grip on how it all works, and as Mallo and Porky say - alot of people are commenting from the sidelines.